The Use of Trinidadian English

Trinidadian English is a dialect of English that was formed in Trinidad. There are many differences between Trinidadian English and Modern English. That being said, it is important that we study this dialect of English in order to determine the similarities and differences between the two.  

In 1981, Merle Hodge released a novel, Crick, Crack Monkey. In this novel, she would explore the life of a young girl who had grown up in Trinidad. At a very young age, the main character, Tee, would lose both of her parents. Her mother had passed away during child-birth. Then, her father would immigrate to England and leave Tee and her brother behind. Tee would then be thrown into a custody battle between her Aunt Beatrice, who is from the middle-class, and her Aunt Tantie, who is living in the lower-class. This battle will distort Tee's views of her culture. After winning a scholarship, Tee is forced to go live with her Aunt Beatrice because her Aunt Beatrice has the means necessary to support Tee's success. Beatrice has her own children that she wants to succeed and when Tee comes to live with them, Beatrice is nowhere near inviting. This change makes Tee question herself and how she has grown up. When Tee moves in with her Aunt Beatrice, readers are met with glimpses of racism towards Tee. Tee soon finds herself wondering if who she is is good enough. Ultimately, she falls into an identity crisis. 

In 2018, Kiesha Tamara Lindsay submitted her dissertation to Howard University in order to earn her degree: Doctor of Philosophy. For this dissertation, she explored the phonological features of children who speak Trinidadian English. This source connects directly with Merle Hodge's Crick, Crack Monkey considering Lindsay will explain the knowledge gaps that are associated with children who speak Trinidadian English. In the novel, Beatrice did not know that there was knowledge gaps associated with children who speak Trinidadian English. Even though Tee earned the scholarship all on her own, Beatrice still thought of Tee as someone from the lower class, someone who was different from Beatrice's own family. Lindsay explains how children in Trinidad grow up speaking Trinidadian English Creole until they are of school age where they begin speaking primarily Trinidadian English. With this, she notes, "In everyday life, Trinidadian children engage in code-mixing of both varieties" (Lindsay 4). This is more than likely what Tee had experienced growing up. However, Beatrice's family is a great representation of the many different dialects that are spoken in Trinidad. Since Tee speaks a dialect that is different from what Beatrice's family speaks, she is seen as less educated and therefore below themselves. It is odd how whenever someone speaks a different dialect, they are seen as less educated. In reality, people who speak other languages should be seen as more educated because they know more than one language. With this, the main character in Crick, Crack Monkey, Tee, is a prime example of someone who speaks a different dialect who is very well educated. Considering Tee had won a very competitive scholarship, it is clear that speaking a different language does not equal being uneducated.